Demountable wheel.



T. L DUPFY.

DEMOUNTABLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911.

Patented June 9, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 UNITED STATES PigENT OFFICE.

THOMAS I. DUFFY. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR T HENRY ELLSWORTH AND ALBERT E. CROSS, COPARTNERS, AS FIRM 0F ELLSWORTH 8:, CROSS, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

DEMOUNTABLE WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed January 16, 1911. Serial No. 602.797.

. T0 all whom it may concern thereof. reference being bad to the accompanying drawings. and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part.

of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hubs for demountable wheels. more especially adapted for automobile uses, of that type shown in my prior application for United States Letters Patent. filed May 2nd, 1910,

Serial Number 568,807.

The present invention relates to novel 20 means of constructing and arranging the locking device. by which the inner and outer hub members or shells are forced and locked together. and relates also to improved means for locking the assembled hub members from relative rotation.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings.iigure l is an axial scetion of ademountable whccl hub embodying mv invention. showing fragments of the spokes. Fig. l is an inner end elevation of the assembled hub shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a partial inner-end elevation of the outer shell or hub member. Fig. i is a like view of the inner huh member or shell. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the outer end of the locking ring bv which the hub members are locked together. showing a novel form of wrench engaging lugs by which to turn the ring. Fig. (5 is a plan view of the part shown in Fig. Fig. T is an axial section of a rear hub embodying my invention. showing a brake drum applicd thereto. Fig. 8 is an inncr cud elevation of the hub shown in Fig. 7.

First referring to the hub shown in Figs. 1 to 6. inclusive. which may constitute the hub of the front wheel of an automobile. said hub comprises as its principal elements an inner shell or member 10 which is interiorly fashioned to receive the anti-friction bearings of the hub. (not shown) and an outer shell or 'ring 18 member is provided at its inner end with an integral flange l2. and is provided at its outer cnd with a flange l?) which is remov ably fitted over said outer member. and between which and the flange 1; the spokes ll of the whccl are confined: said flanges being clamped upon the interposed spokes by the bolts 15. The inner hub member 10 is formed at its rear end with an exterior taper or cone-like surface. said member being made largest at its inner end. and the outer shell or member 11 is formed with an interior taper or cone-like surface coi'nplen'icntal to and adapted to interfit with the exterior ta pcr of said inner member. The said inner member is elongated beyond the outer member to provide a space to receive the end of the axle and the anti-friction bearings therefor, and is cxteriorlv screw-threaded at its outer end to receive a dust cap 16 which ch-scs the outer end of the hub. The outer end of the inner mem er is made of such diameter as to permit the outer member to be 'iassed freely thercovcr to apply said outer member to and removc it from the inncr member. Said inner member is provided just outside of its tapered portion with an exterior scuew thread 17 adapted to rc ccivc an intcriorl scrmv-thrczuled locking which is arranged to engage the outer member in a manner to force the tapcrcd or cone-like portions of said members in \vcdging cngagcnnmt when said locking ring I is turned inwardly toward the outer member. The spoke flange l?) is removablv fitted to lhc outer bub member. as before stated. and is formed at its inner margin with an annular flange 20 which engages over the outer surface of the outer hub membcr. and is provided outside of said flange with an annular. radial flange 21 which extends inwardly toward the inner hub member. The said flange. 21 terminates short of the inner hub member and is spaced a distance from the outer end of the outer hub member so as to provide an annular chamber or recess 22 to receive the locking ring 18. The locking ring is formed with an annular outwardly extending flange 2% which extends outwardly through the space between the flange 21 and the inner member, and terminates substantially flush with the outer face of the flange 21. The outer end of said locking ring flange 24 is fashioned to engage a suitable tool, as a wrench, by which the locking ring may be turned inwardly against the outer member to force the tapered portions of said members into wedging engage ment, and turned outwardly to draw the outer hub member away from the inner member. Such tool engaging portion of the end of the ring may be formed with spanner holes or may be made of polygonal cross section for engagement by a jaw wrench. As herein shown the end face of said locking ring flange 24. is formed with two diamet rically opposed pairs of lugs 25, 25, the lugs of each pair being spaced a distance apart to provide notches 26 to receive the engaging parts of a wrench or like tool. The sai notches, as herein shown, are undercut, (Fig. 6) and the inner walls of the notches are also disposed radially with respect to the axis of the hub. The angular formation of the inner or engaging walls of the lugs enables the same to be reliably engaged by a suitably shaped wrench or implement so as to prevent the implement from slipping off the locking ring when the latter is engaged with the rin to turn the same on or off. A convement form of wrench may consist of a ring made of a. diameter to pass over the outer end of the hub and provided with oppositely located lugs of a shape to engage and fit the notches 26 of the locking ring, one or both of said lugs being adapted to be moved outwardly, in any suitable manner, when the ring is being placed over the hub, and to be thereafter moved inwardly into the outer ends of the notches 26 and locked in engagement therewith. The suggested wrench may be provided with oppositely extending handles, movable relatively to said ring, and the lugs which are movable to engage the notches may be formed on said handles. In assembling the hub and locking ring thus described, the outer spoke flange 13 is first removed, at a time when the hub members are demounted, the locking ring placed up against the outer end of the outer hub member, and thereafter the flange 13 fitted and bolted to place. When the parts are thus assembled the locking ring is free to rotate relatively to the outer hub member but is confined from lateral separation with respect to said hub member and the flange. The swiveling connection of the locking ring with the hub member gives to said ring a pulling function, when turned backwardly, whereby the outer hub member is positively withdrawn from the inner member to demount the hub. By making the outer spoke flange 13 removable and recessing the flanges at their inner margins to receive the locking rin and to hold or confine said ring rotative y in place, I provide an exceedingly simple, strong and etficient construction for mounting the combined locking and pulling ring, anu a construction which enables the parts to be made and assembled at relatively small cost. This construction also enables the locking ring to be housed and protected from injury, as by contact with external objects such as would tend to injure the screw-threaded connection of the locking ring or nut with the inner member. Furthermore the location of the locking ring or member shown, a distance inwardly from the end of the hub, serves to further protect the locking ring from injury. As a means of preventing the assembled hub members from rotating relatively to each other, in case the wedging engagement should fail by reason of the parts not being tightened together, I have shown an interlocking connection between the inner ends of the inner and outer hub members. As herein shown said tapered inner member 10 is provided at its inner end face with a plurality of angularly spaced, radial, lugs 28 separated by notches 29, (Fig. 4) and the inner end face of the outer hub member is provided, inwardly of the spoke flange 12. with a plurality of similarly spaced lugs 30 and intervening notches 31 (Fig. 3); the arrangement being such that when the hub members are assembled the lugs and notches of said members are interlocked to prevent one member turning with respect to the other. Said lugs may be cast on the hub members and machined to provide the proper interlocking engagement thereof, or the inner hub member may be originally formed with a solid radial flange, (indicated by the dotted lines at the notched portions of said member) and the outer hub member formed with a like solid inwardly extending flange and the notches 29 and 31 may be formed in said flanges by a suitable milling operation. The said lugs and the notches are preferably made of substantially equal lengths, and the lugs closely fit said notches to lock the assembled parts rigidly together. The interlocking connection produced by the lugs described prevents relative rotation of the hub members in case the wedging engagement of the tapered or cone like surfaces thereof should fail, b reason of the fact that said tapers shoul not be forced sufficiently tight together.

The hub shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is made like the hub before described, except as to variations required in applying the brake drum 35 thereto. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the inner hub member 10 is formed at its inner end with an integral, radially extending drum carrying flange 36, on the outer margin of which is formed or carried an integral, annular rim to constitute the brake drum 35. The outer hub member 11 may be provided with the lugs 30 such as are employed in the construction previously described, and said lugs are adapted to enter angularly spaced, arcuate openings 37 formed in said flange, the solid portions of the flange between said openings 37 constitut-ing interlocking parts similar to the lugs 28 of the'inner hub member of the construction first described. The said flange 36 is cast with the opening 37 therein, and the walls of said openings may be finished, as by suitable drifting tools, to fit the same to the lugs 31 of the outer member. The nuts 38 of the bolts 39 by which the spokes are clamped between the spoke flanges are contained within openings 40 formed in the flange 36 to receive the same-to permit said nuts to bear against the inner or integral spoke flange 12. The said'openings 40 are made of such size that the nuts 38 will pass freely into and out of said openings when the outer member is being applied to or withdrawn from the inner hub member. The remaining parts of the hub construction shown in Figs. '7 and 8 may be, and they are shown as, made like the similar parts of the construction first described, and similar parts bear like reference characters.

In both of the forms shown the locking means are located exterior to the hub and at s entirely to the rear end face of the inner member, notwithstanding the presence of the adaptdto be separated endwise therefrom in demounting the'ivheel, said outer member comprising a main body portionyand exterior front and rear spoke flanges, the front spoke flange being removably fitted to the outer member, andthe outer member terminating short of the plane of the front spoke flange, whereby there is provided Within the plane of the base'of the front spoke flange an outwardly opening annular recess, the rear wall of which constitutes the front end of the outer member, and a locking ring occupying said recess and detachably fitted to the inner member and having swiveling engagement with said outer member and adapted to bear against said shoulder.

A hub for a demountable wheel comprising an inner member, an outer member removably fitted over the inner member and adapted to be separated endwise therefrom in demounting the wheel, said. outer member comprising a main body portion and exterior front and rear spoke flanges, the front spoke flange being removably tted to the outer member, and the outer member terminating short ofif the plane of the front spoke flange, said front spoke flange being formed at its inner periphery with an annular flange which overlaps the front end "of the said outer member, and with a radially directed flange spaced at its inner periphery from the inner member to form a forwardly opening annular recess, and a locking ring screwthreaded to said inner member and extending through said recess, and provided within the plane of the front spoke flange with an annular flange adapted to fit within said recess behind the radial flange of said spoke flange. I

3. A hub for a demountable wheel comprising an inner member, an outer member removably fitted over the inner member, said outer member comprising a main body portion and exterior front and rear spoke flanges, the front spoke flange being removably fitted to the outer member and adapted to be held in'place by the means which clamp the wheel spokes between said spoke flanges. and the outer member terminating shortof the plane of the front spoke flange, whereby there is provided within the plane of the base of the front spoke flange an outwardly opening annular recess, the rear wall of which constitutes the front end of the outer member, and a locking ring occupying said recess and detachably fitted to the inner member andv having swiveling engagement with said outer member and adapted to bear against said shoulder, the front end of the locking ring having means for engagement by a tool to turn the ring into and out of locking position.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of December A. D. 1910.

THOMAS I. DUFFY.

Vitnesses W. L. HALL, VILLIAM' GOLDBERGER. 

